Throughout this series, the Atlanta Hawks have struggled to knock down open shots. In the first three games of this series, they were shooting a lot of wide-open 3-pointers against the Washington Wizards and they couldn't make them pay. The offense was generating 15.7 wide-open (classified as closest defender six feet or more from the shooter) 3-pointers per game and they were only making 31.9 percent of those shots. That was down from 40 percent in the first round and 39.4 percent in the regular season.
In Game 4, the Hawks got back to basics and it ended up helping their offense in a big way. They got a lot of baskets in the paint early, scoring 18 points in the paint in the first quarter alone. This allowed them to start getting into a better rhythm on offense and it gave them enough firepower to hold off another scrappy effort from the Wizards, as they nearly came back and stole this game. The Hawks escaped with the 106-101 victory to even up the series at 2-2.
Here's what we learned from Hawks-Wizards Game 4:
1. JEFF TEAGUE FINALLY SHOWED UP AND IT WAS NEEDED
Jeff Teague entered Game 4 shooting just 29.3 percent from the field, 12.5 percent from 3-point range, and averaging just 12.7 points on 13.7 shots. He was getting destroyed by John Wall, Ramon Sessions, Will Bynum, Bradley Beal, and anybody else the Wizards were throwing at him. He finally broke through in Game 4 and started to remind people that he's been really good in the playoffs before. Teague penetrated the Wizards' defense all night long and carved them up with his scoring and passing.
He finished with a postseason high of 26 points thanks to making 9-of-20 from the field, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He chipped in eight assists and only had one turnover on the night. This was a huge game for him because when he has his attack going, the Hawks are pretty hard to beat. The Hawks are 20-8 when he scores at least 20 points in a game, including the playoffs.
2. BRADLEY BEAL AND PAUL PIERCE COULDN'T MISS UNTIL THE END
The Hawks were hard to stop for most of this game, which is a good thing because they had to try to keep up with the scoring of Bradley Beal and Paul Pierce. Pierce was on fire to start the game, hitting his first five 3-pointers in the game and looking like he was going to continue torturing the opposition. Pierce finished with 22 points for the game, and seemed like their reliable safety valve for most of the night.
Beal was his perfect counterpart, setting up the majority of the offense by the Wizards with his shooting ability and the way he was attacking the basket. He finished with a game-high 34 points on 11-of-25 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range. He also went 8-of-9 from the free throw line with seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Beal scored 13 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and nearly led the comeback.
It wasn't until Paul Pierce missed a wide-open 3-pointer with about six seconds left that the Wizards' chances truly died. The Hawks hit a couple of free throws to seal the game, and the Wizards eventually went semi-quietly into the night. But who knows what they would've done if Pierce had hit his sixth 3-pointer of the game, which seemed like a certainty with how open he was. Perhaps it was his turn to take the extinguished torch from the Hawks and miss the wide-open shot?
3. SHARING IS CARING FOR THE HAWKS AND CARING IS WINNING
The Hawks got back to the basics of their system and set up everything by attacking early inside. Their dump-off passes and threading the needle in pick-and-rolls got them going, as they racked up assist after assist. They had 20 assists in the first half alone, and finished with 30 for the game. Finishing with 28 or more is a huge numbers for them, as it's generally guaranteed a victory for them all season long.
When the Hawks get 28 assists or more in a game this season, they're now 24-3, including the playoffs. Two of those losses came in November and two of those losses happened against the Hornets. When the Hawks get to 30 assists in a game, they're now 19-2 this season. It's not only obvious that a team passing the ball this well would succeed, but it also speaks to their team philosophy mattering so much. They're making the extra pass and now it's helping them avoid an embarrassing 3-1 deficit to a Wizards team without John Wall the last three games.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Atlanta. Can the Hawks finally take control of this series?
SERIES SCHEDULE, RESULTS
Game 1 - Sunday, May 3
Washington 104, Atlanta 98
Game 2 - Tuesday, May 5
Atlanta 106, Washington 90
Game 3 - Saturday, May 9
Washington 103, Atlanta 101
Game 4 - Monday, May 11
Atlanta 106, Washington 101 - Series tied at 2-2
Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13
Washington at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6 - Friday, May 15
Atlanta at Washington, TBD (ESPN) - If necessary
Game 7 * Monday, May 18
Washington at Atlanta, 8 p.m. (TNT) - If necessary
